SENATE President Jude U. Hofschneider has introduced a bill that would allow the off-island member of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation board of directors to appear and participate in meetings virtually.
The statute, 4 CMC § 8132(a)(4), provides for an appointment of an off-island member to serve on the CUC board of directors.
S.B. 22-75 proposes to amend 4 CMC § 8132 to add a new subsection that would allow an off-island member to “appear and participate in the board of directors meeting via internet or online video conferencing, teleconferencing, or other electronic means of communication.”
By law, board meetings are held within the Commonwealth at a time and place publicly designated by the board at least once every month for its first two years of existence.
Thereafter, the board meets at least quarterly, unless special meetings are called by the chair or by a majority of the board.
All meetings are open to the public, except when the board finds that personal matters affecting the privacy of an individual or other confidential matters are to be considered.
In such a case, the board may, or at the request of the individual involved, consider the matter in closed session, provided that any opening of public bids, award of public bids, or other official action resulting from the meeting shall be acted upon in an open meeting.
The presence of four members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any board meeting.
Current board members include chair Miranda V. Manglona, vice chair Weston Thomas Deleon Guerrero, secretary Marylou Villagomez, treasurer Matthew Holley, secretary and personnel chair Jovita SN Paulino, and operations committee chair Janice Tenorio, while Aubry Hocog is the Commonwealth Development Authority representative to the CUC board.
